Caring for Your Biliary Drainage Catheter - Memorial Sloan ...

9. Make sure the off tap of the stopcock is turned in the direction of the Clave.
10. Secure the new tubing to the abdomen with a UC Strip:
• Remove the backing from the center of the UC strip to expose the adhesive.
(Figure 8)
• Place the center section of the adhesive onto the drainage bag tubing about
two to four inches down from stopcock.
• Press the adhesive around the catheter. (Figure 9) The remaining adhesive will
stick together.
• Select a position for the UC strip. The UC strip and drainage bag tubing
should be lower than the catheter insertion site. Rest the tubing on the
abdomen on the selected site. There should be no pull or tension on the
catheter. There should be a gentle bowing of the catheter.
• Remove the backing paper from each side of the UC strip, one at a time.
Smooth the adhesive onto the abdomen. The UC strip will prevent pulling,
tension, or kinking of the drainage catheter and tubing. (Figure 10)
11. Secure the drainage bag with the belt or with a safety pin. You can attach the
bag to the waistband of your clothing with the safety pin or to your leg with the
included Velcro straps. The bag should be below the level of the catheter. That
allows the catheter to drain by gravity. (Figure 11)
12. Check to see that the catheter is draining into the new tubing.
13. When you have finished, remove the latex gloves and wash your hands.
Sign and Symptoms of Blockage
There are a number of signs and symptoms that may indicate a blockage in the
drainage catheter. They include:
• Decreased amount or absence of bile.
• Persistent leakage of bile around the insertion site.
• Inability to flush catheter.
• Leaking around catheter during flushing.
• Fever and chills.
• Nausea.
• Increased jaundice.
If any of these signs or symptoms appear, whether alone or together, check the
catheter first.
• The black ink mark should be located slightly above the nipple of the disk. If it is
not, the catheter may have moved out of the bile duct.
• If the black mark has not moved, check the position of the tap on the three-way
stopcock. Make sure it is pointing in the direction of the Clave.
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11
Caring for Your Biliary Drainage Catheter [ 8 of 11 ]